When compared to a perfect triple-a bond rating enjoyed by other11 states including neighboring Indiana, Iowa and Missouri.
“Our problem in Illinois is that we have not substantively and fairly addressed the state public pension issue.”
Rutherford points to Governor Quinn and the democratically controlled general assembly for making matters worse in the last two years– raising taxes but not acting on pension reform.
“This problem didn’t come along just now it’s been accumulating for actually decades. Each time the governor set a deadline and didn’t meet it there was some negative reaction,” he said.
“It’s become quite evident to me that the general assembly has not registered what these negative impacts are to be enough to cause a change in the public pensions.”
Rutherford says reform should come in the form of new cost of living adjustments and sliding healthcare costs based on pension income, all of which is a hard sell in Springfield– but would put the state back on better financial ground.
“Illinois is a very good place and we can turn this place around– but the first thing we need to do is fix this in a fair way, our public pensions.”
999 Comments to “Illinois’ credit rating downgraded; state drops to worst in the nation”
January 26, 2013 at 9:10 AM
Thank you Michael Madigan Rod and shinny head Quinn. The democrats are mostly responsible for this huge mess and We keep putting them in charge.These idiots have no shame so after the 66% state income tax increase I wonder what they are thinking of raising next. Madigan and Quinn have no idea about budgets and finances. Did these dummies graduate from college? His daughter might run for governor and I am sure the people from Chicago will put her there. What a shame. Shame on you Chicagoans, will You please use that tinny brain God gave you.
January 26, 2013 at 10:26 AM
"we" don't put them in charge — they steal the elections
January 26, 2013 at 10:28 AM
What prevents level-headed people from moving the hell out of there?
January 26, 2013 at 11:11 AM
The Democrats have destroyed the housing market and most people are underwater.
January 26, 2013 at 2:12 PM
it's also difficult to up and leave your job, family etc.
January 27, 2013 at 4:26 PM
Jobs? Who has jobs?
January 27, 2013 at 7:47 AM
What? The housing market collapsed under Bush. Not much for facts, are you?
January 27, 2013 at 7:53 AM
That would be due to the Democrats who held both houses of Congress, coupled with policies enacted by a Democrat President (Carter), namely the Community Reinvestment Act and Democrats running Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac into the ground.
January 27, 2013 at 4:25 PM
Don't give liberals facts. It would just confuse them
January 27, 2013 at 12:30 PM
Your comment reveals an uninformed simpleton's mentality. The fact that the housing market collapsed under Bush does not mean that Bush's policies created this. Try becoming informed about the causes of the mortgage meltdown, then get back us when you know what you're talking about. A good starting place would be Gretchen Morgenson's book, Reckless Endangerment. She is a reporter for the NYT, so you can't accuse her of being a right wing hack.
January 27, 2013 at 4:25 PM
uninformed simpleton = Straight ticket Democrat voter.
January 26, 2013 at 3:44 PM
I already did.
January 27, 2013 at 3:40 AM
Stop right there! Don't you DARE wish the Ill Noise on the rest of the nation! If the nation is to survive, we must keep THAT cancer isolated. Build the border fence… around Illinois!
January 27, 2013 at 8:42 AM
Also do some research just do it with uhaul and see how much it is to get a truck INTO illinois as opposed to OUT of illinois. The cost difference is hundreds of dollars. Mainly because people are dying to get out as i was and noone wants to move there anymore unless they are just completely ignorant of how it really is there. I finally got out a year and a half ago and i will never move back.
January 26, 2013 at 11:38 AM
The problem with Illinois is that there are too many voters that will vote for anything with a "D" after the name. The voter fraud is only a guarantee.
January 26, 2013 at 2:55 PM
Particularly the union slugs.
January 27, 2013 at 2:30 AM
And the dead, who conveniently never demand govt. goodies in exchange for their votes.
January 26, 2013 at 12:34 PM
Lol for sure!
January 26, 2013 at 3:17 PM
Yes, Cook County has that reputation. Gov. Earl Long once said “I’ve arranged with my executor to be buried in Chicago. Because when I die, I want to still remain active politically.”
January 26, 2013 at 11:24 PM
You mean Crook county right Gary?
January 26, 2013 at 10:38 AM
You still live in that sh it ho let? Move!
January 26, 2013 at 2:08 PM
money.. many of us have lived in IL for GENERATIONS our parents, kids and grand kids live here,, we have HOUSES and the housing market is DOWN,, DON'T think for one second that as soon as it quits diving MANY are OUT OF HERE.. I at least feel somewhat better I at least got out of CHICAGO and live where people who know there are TWO parties live..CHICAGO is the CANCER of the state..LOOK who they have for a mayor,,
January 26, 2013 at 2:35 PM
Hi Icky. I hope and pray for all the taxpayers in Illinois that your situation improves but it looks really bleak especially after when you mentioned the R name. I knew nothing positive would come from him. Good luck to you!
January 27, 2013 at 4:28 PM
Now do you see why only LANDOWNERS should be allowed to vote? The people that don't like it can move, but landowners are rather tied to their land. Landowners should have more say, if not the only say, in the states in which they reside and anyone else can just pack their bags and MOVE
January 26, 2013 at 11:02 AM
Most politicians graduated from college. Many of them are lawyers.
To my limited knowlege, we do not have any high school dropouts holding federal public office. From what I have seen in my 70 plus years, dropouts could not have done much worse than the enlightened clowns we now have in office.
January 26, 2013 at 11:42 AM
High school dropouts would do a better job. The problem with college people is how much they know that just ain't so.
January 26, 2013 at 11:53 AM
RR – “the trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant; it's just that they know so much that isn't so.”
January 27, 2013 at 7:49 AM
This union slugs have kept your income up if you are a worker.
January 27, 2013 at 10:07 AM
They have kept your income up IF you are a worker. They have also forced employers to move jobs to other states to find lower wage workers so their products can be competitive with other companies.
January 27, 2013 at 11:44 AM
But your costs high if you are a cutomer or a taxpayer. Gotta look at ALL side of the issue. "Economics In One Lesson."
January 27, 2013 at 7:52 AM
I think I wll keep my college degree and you can continue to be a dropout or you could go back. You need it.
January 27, 2013 at 11:46 AM
"I have never let my schooling interfere with my education." Mark Twain
January 27, 2013 at 8:21 AM
How true. Most of the time all it means is they've been indoctrinated with liberal Bee Ess.
January 26, 2013 at 2:15 PM
you speak the truth–truth. big difference between and education and common sense.
January 27, 2013 at 4:29 PM
Lawyers are mostly liberals art majors trying to hold on to the fallacy that they are intelligent when they never had any business being in college in the first place.
January 26, 2013 at 11:44 AM
Nug, yoz gotta yoz will u can!!! ain no white guy gonna giv me no jub cuz im black so m***rfr gota pay me no wat im sain??
January 26, 2013 at 12:50 PM
It's not because you are black, it's because you cannot speak english or present your self in a manner that may make you employable. I have many friends that are black and are pilots, lawyers and successful real estate agents. Stop playing the race card (it's reached it's expiration date), learn to apply yourself to something and stop expecting other people to pay for your lazy a$$!
January 26, 2013 at 3:51 PM
You know the biggest difference between the successful black individuals you speak of and the Obama phone black people? One group has a chip on their shoulder and the other doesn't. I'll let you pick which one you think the successful group is in.
January 26, 2013 at 11:51 AM
As a son of Illinois who escaped to a vibrant sunbelt state, it pains me to say this, but you elected the politicians that turned a former economic powerhouse into a state that businesses and individuals flee.
You got what you asked for. I may come back to visit Illinois, but would never consider moving back.
January 26, 2013 at 2:14 PM
Don't blame you,, I was born and raised and lived most of my adult life in CHICAGO.. finally got out of there next NEXT is out of the state.. we get hit hard cause AFTER we bought our house my husband got a job out of state and while he can commute we can't sell our house and move closer to his job where taxes are less we don't even get full credit from IL for the taxes we pay in the state he works in,, they only give us partial credit..cause for some reason IL doesn't have a reciprocating agreement with some of their closest neighbors..
January 26, 2013 at 2:37 PM
I wish you well Icky. We must be doing quite well here in NJ compared to Illinois.
January 27, 2013 at 6:52 PM
Ditto TX.
January 26, 2013 at 10:51 PM
Any way you can rent out your house and move closer to his job?
January 27, 2013 at 8:45 AM
Right there with you i lived there for a total of 19 years but ive had enough and there is nothing short of a lottery win that would get me back to illinois and even a lottery win would just get a time share around xmas to visit family.
January 26, 2013 at 12:11 PM
you are right but since 1980 america has become the 47% romney spoke of and reducing goverment becomes anxiety to anyone begging. because thats what they have become beggers and hyenas living on scraps others provide.
January 26, 2013 at 12:29 PM
How true.. what what happens (soon) when all those with their hands out and those who pay zero Fed taxes are more than 50% of the voters ??? The rest of us will need to move out of the USA… but to where?
January 26, 2013 at 5:58 PM
How about we break off a piece of the USA for ourselves. If the USSR broke apart, why can't the USSA?
January 26, 2013 at 6:14 PM
Bob, I love our country. I served her in Vietnam when others were doing their best to tear her apart. We have to find a way save her without tearing her apart.
January 26, 2013 at 10:52 PM
Sometimes even the most patriotic sailor has to abandon ship.
January 27, 2013 at 6:54 PM
That would be ideal, but time will tell if it gets too hard to bear.
January 27, 2013 at 4:31 PM
Watch 'Fort Apache' where the Indian chief explains that it is better to go to war than to become "the 47%". Where has that mentality gone?
January 26, 2013 at 12:31 PM
At first, I thought you were writing about California, who seems to suffer from a remarkably similar set of issues for a remarkably similar set of reasons. Apparently though, the Democratic Party is proud of what they've done to the people of California. They call California "the oasis of Democratic politics."
However, see what this means to everyday Californians. http://soquelbythecreek.blogspot.com/2012/10/cali…
January 26, 2013 at 12:53 PM
The Democrats need to keep the new slave happy, to continue to stay in power. You feed them, house them, and hey make you money and give you power. The working man becomes lower than a slave, he has to support those whose only job is to vote.
January 26, 2013 at 1:38 PM
As Her Highness said "what difference does it make?"
January 26, 2013 at 2:26 PM
"Madigan and Quinn have no idea about budgets and finances. "
And they've lived in a bubble for so long they don't know anything about the real world outside their failing society either.
But that attitude is rife throughout Washington as well. They're pushing a perverted social agenda on the country while they're ignoring the fact that unemployment is continuing to get worse and inflation is just now beginning to show its ugly head.
And with a dangerous debt to GDP ratio of 103% and rapidly increasing every month they seem to inanely think that we're in a "recovery."
Nero might have "fiddled" while Rome burned, but the community organizer and his minions are distracted with their push toward gun control and mandating that diasbled people must be included on football teams or schools will have to face the consequences.
The country is getting too big to control. It must be broken up into smaller nation-states and the best way to do that is for areas to secede peacefully rather than start a civil war to force the government to buzz off.
January 26, 2013 at 2:39 PM
Sad but true. How the heck do we take the bull by the horns already. I mean Obummer has put many more lobbyists there in Boomtown (Washington, DC) in overdrive!
January 26, 2013 at 2:55 PM
Oh please. We all know it's the fault of the racist whites in the southern part of the state not paying their fair share.
January 27, 2013 at 6:59 PM
Why did the administrator delete my comment? It wasn't racist. Just questioning if Tervais has been to the South. Why so touchy?
January 26, 2013 at 3:29 PM
wait until the pension funds implode…sure glad i don't live under that regime. notice the closer they get to ruin, the more they want to take your guns away? they know what the outcome will be when the collapse comes.
January 26, 2013 at 4:09 PM
Hey,I am an endangered species…a Republican in Lala land.. Illinois–Tourist capital of the world… A jobs Mecca…Sun and Fun….well….almost …not…..Any doubt where you are heading as a country look at what the idiots have done here…in the murder capital of the US…..Emanuel (God with us) is clueless and Madigan is the defacto Govenour …and He is a crooks crook and his daughter is the head of enforcement–She is his Eric Holder…TThey believe that all taxes can be raised and nothing can or will be cut.. No one has ever been laid off in this government.. I swear they are like the housewife who says to her husband.."We can't be out of money, we still have checks."
January 26, 2013 at 4:53 PM
Good point. Of course this state has one of the highest levels of Union members so the correlation between dying economies and Union membership is evident.
January 26, 2013 at 4:56 PM
Thanks to the dirty politics of Chicago; Obama was able to "steal" the election. Voter fraud re-elected him. Facts are there.
January 26, 2013 at 5:45 PM
EDDDD, you are a liar
January 26, 2013 at 7:44 PM
Wow, thanks for contributing!
January 26, 2013 at 6:50 PM
The Candyman and his sweet Dems can put a little sugar on this and everyhting will be just fine. It is the evil working evangelical conservatives that have caused this bad situation to become public. Just vote for the Candymand and everthing is fine.
January 26, 2013 at 8:23 PM
You people in IL have embraced Marxism in the most subtle of ways. You revel in the union mentality, you are proud of your “progressive” achievements (now debacles), you embrace the “bad boy” hype………….you get what you deserve. It is engrained in your culture. You want out of this …………don’t vote for anything that is Democratic. We can fix the Republicans later, Democrats are no longer Americans.
January 27, 2013 at 4:33 PM
When were they Americans?
January 27, 2013 at 7:04 PM
Dems used to not be this evil. My parents (God rest their souls) were die hard, yellow dog Democrats because they saw FDR as saving the nation. I do think Obama has been the most liberal Democrat ever elected president as he has embraced both abortion on demand and gay marriage, as well as pushed a tax and spend socialist-bordering agenda, all while dividing the nation like no other! And don't get me started on Eric Holder!
January 27, 2013 at 7:06 PM
Administrators, are you afraid of opinions contrary to the current administration? I don't think so, judging by others' comments on this site. I said nothing that hasn't been said in so many words before and used no derogatory terms. Do you allow free speech here?
January 27, 2013 at 7:08 PM
Please approve my prior comment. It did not "push the envelope" in any way.
January 26, 2013 at 9:56 PM
Downstate Governor would change a whole lot ! I love Chicago and Chicagoians, however, the politicians need to be aware that THERE IS life South of i-80
January 26, 2013 at 10:17 PM
This is just the beginning! I discovered that some State Representative from Champaign, IL (Naomi Jakobsson) introduced a proposed amendment to the State Constitution that would change the graduated income tax rate. Doing so would allow the state to levy more and increase taxes on Illinois citizens. Like the US Government, there is no talk of spending cuts, just more gouging of the taxpayer. I bet you can't guess the political party Jakobsson is in? DEMOCRAT!
January 26, 2013 at 11:21 PM
The idiots are reflected by idiots! The only ones getting anything out of this are the idiots, so how are the real idiots is now the question? The idiots have outsmarted everyone else so now everyone numbers very few and the idiots rule! Man, how scary is that?
January 26, 2013 at 11:22 PM
Man, I hate auto correct!
January 27, 2013 at 12:27 AM
Actually, about 66% of Chicagoans are democrats and voted in these clowns. I'm unfortunately part of the minority 33% of Chicagoans that are held helpless as these elected officials use money like it grows on trees. My vote didn't count.
January 27, 2013 at 1:37 AM
Their brains are too tiny to use besides, why should anyone in Chicago care about this problem when there are achievers to pick up the tab?
January 27, 2013 at 6:37 AM
One thing that is going up in Illinois is the Chicago murder rate. Unlike NYC the frigid weather is keeping crime down but count on liberal lunacy run Chicago the frigid weather doesn't stop the criminals on the streets or the ones in political offices.
January 27, 2013 at 8:20 AM
I say GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!! Let the stupid people that elected these thieves (and the electorate knew they were thieves) suffer….They desreve what they get………… I hope it gets so bad they start eating each other…
January 27, 2013 at 2:06 PM
Why do people insist in calling these people stupid or dummies. They are organized crime, syphoning off as much money as they can, in as many ways as they can. You write as if they care about the state going bankrupt. They don't, except for any impact on their theft.
January 27, 2013 at 6:56 PM
Ahhh.. and up in Chickagoland we have the insane ex Obozo Chief of Stuff. Goes to show ya.
Vote for stupid, get stupid.
January 27, 2013 at 8:32 PM
Are you kidding….The MAJORITY of people in Chicago are uninformed idiots. Illinois is a LOST cause.
January 28, 2013 at 6:53 PM
Ismael: My downstate senators are leading the charge to raise taxes on the "rich" by proposing that we abandon the flat tax for a "progressive" tax. The answer is ALWAYS to tax more by the democrats. The scam is that they convince the average guy that its free to them, we'll just get the money from those evil rich guys. Irresponsibility piled on top of immorality. And the press cheers them on. Ditto at the national level.
January 31, 2013 at 10:38 AM
So much for the notion that downstate IL is any saner than Chicongo.
January 26, 2013 at 9:19 AM
One of my biggest fears is that Illinois is only a microcosm of what we can expect on a national level. After all who did the current administration learn from?
January 26, 2013 at 10:24 AM
What I am really afraid of is these Illinoian moving to my state and voting. I know a few, and of course they think they know better than all and espouse their uber liberal "progressive" America hating ideals. I have said to them many a time, "Look at your state, its been run by democrats for the past…well forever!"
January 27, 2013 at 9:55 AM
Absolutely true. Look at what happened to Vermont. All the biggest communists, oops I meant democrats. fled the fiasco they created in Manhattan to infest and corrupt the formerly great state of Vermont. And I mean the worst of the worst fled NY.
Democrats need to stay in the states they ruined: NY, IL, and California.
January 27, 2013 at 4:35 PM
All the more reason for only allowing Landowners to vote.. People should not be allowed to vote for the worst policies and then leave so that everyone else has to deal with what they voted for and then spread it to the next state.
January 27, 2013 at 7:11 PM
Yes, I hear that Californians are moving to TX, and I dread to think they might turn our state purple or even blue.
January 27, 2013 at 11:23 AM
Never under estimate the power of the low information voter. They can ruin anything over time.
January 26, 2013 at 10:24 AM
And the INVA$ION continues… http://www.AmericanPatrol.com
January 26, 2013 at 11:22 AM
Dear Bilbo: that is no fear. that is a reality. I suspect you already know that. Illinois Democrats are stallling – hoping that House of Reps – in two years – has a Democrat majority. then they will go after a major bailout. In the meantime – spend as usual. That is what keeps them in office.
January 27, 2013 at 4:38 PM
It's not going to happen. Presidents typically LOSE seats in Congress in mid-term elections. Exceptions are 1998 and 2002, and in both instances the GOP retained or gained control of both chambers.
The GOP always is stronger in mid-term elections because the Presidential get-out-the-vote weapon isn't out in full steam.
January 27, 2013 at 7:14 PM
I've come to that conclusion, too. There's interest and heavy turnout by lower info voters in Pres'l election years. Those inbetween races don't attract them much.
January 26, 2013 at 11:52 AM
Not a chance. The Northeast, their way of life, the propaganda is all coming to an end as it should. You refuse to identify the problem because your cowards. Unruly, impoverished blacks are choking your cities, burning through your resources and you would call it like it is.
January 26, 2013 at 9:30 PM
Yeah well we are sending them back south from where they spawned. Chicago alone saw an outmigration of 160,000 blacks, mostly to the south. Good luck with that.
January 27, 2013 at 6:34 AM
But in most of the southern states law abiding citizens are allowed to own firearms for protection, wheras in Chicago, only criminals own guns. I don't believe the criminals will make the move — they don't like the possibility that their "victims" might shoot back at them.
January 27, 2013 at 4:40 PM
Criminals don't move. They have too much of a good thing going. The same things happened in New Orleans. The first people back after Katrina were the criminal element because they couldn't function outside of their element.
January 27, 2013 at 9:54 PM
They won't go back to the South. They still think that Democrats run the Southern states; why do you think millions moved from the South and into the northern big cities after the Civil War?
(Not taking into account that the Ku Klux Klan was absolutely, overwhelmingly Democrat, as was the lion's share of southern states).
January 26, 2013 at 11:59 AM
I'm with you the Dems are so bloody set on spending and borrowing they are ruining the country. The homeless of today would have been hobos in the past who didn't want ties but at least were willing to work for food. Now they want soup kitchens and welfare. Ghetto kids think the only way out is to be a tv or music star or sports figure and how many of them are there. Darn few in comparasion.And I have to say I am as guilty as the rest of you in giving my kids and grandkids so much they have no work ethic. All in all we are in a mess.
January 26, 2013 at 12:01 PM
California not far behind thanks to Moon Beam and the wacho liberals here!!
January 26, 2013 at 12:15 PM
mostly the blue states. thats is why americans living in the red states need to arm themselves because one day all these blue states will fan out when the money dries up. that is the future we leave our kids. also it only ytook 50 plus years to turn these parasites into what they have become! eisenhower is rolling in his grave!
January 27, 2013 at 4:43 PM
The cost of living is lower in Red states compared to blue states and mostly that is because the red states are more self-reliant and are right to work. A buck goes farther in a red state than in a blue state. That means that wages can be lower and that means fewer dollars that are susceptible to being taxed on the Federal level.
January 27, 2013 at 7:35 PM
Right. Wages are lower, but so is the cost of living, at least where I live.
January 27, 2013 at 7:41 PM
About fifteen years ago, I was talking with a recruiter in Houston that was trying to head hunt a guy in Chicago. He explained to the candidate that in Chicago he would have to earn $105,000 to have the same standard of living that a $65,000 job in Houston would provide.
It isn't doesn't sound as impressive to the girls that you are trying to hook up with at the local singles bar.
January 26, 2013 at 12:25 PM
Bilbo…it's happening now. It's not like it's something to be fear in the future. Obama's doing everything possible to HIDE it and NOT cure it. It's his plan. He hasn't changed his plan from Day 1. It's real….it's not just a media construct. It's on NOW. FIght it!
January 26, 2013 at 12:33 PM
Another perfect illustration of leftist policies gone wild.
Obama is imploding the US economy and its currency in the same fashion. The greatest economic engine in the world, the world’s reserve currency, and the most powerful force for freedom worldwide [via its military] is being taken down to its knees by this POS America hating leftist radical.
The LSMedia is in lock step with this administration and completely unrestrained since Obama’s re-election. Implementation of the left’s economic ideology will prove more destructive than anything in our countries history.
January 26, 2013 at 2:03 PM
It's a well founded fear. They do plan on carrying out the Illinois destuctrion play across the nation. The Chinese are behind this, and they will take over piece by piece.
http://endoftheamericandream.com/archives/china-w…
January 27, 2013 at 7:36 PM
I've heard it's more George Soros and the New World Order, but have done no research on that.
January 26, 2013 at 2:54 PM
January 26, 2013 at 4:02 PM
They used to say that "as goes GM, so goes the nation". My question is who will bail our rear out?
January 26, 2013 at 4:02 PM
"After all who did the current administration learn from?"
The problem is not who they learned from but the fact that you and I and millions of others did not stand tall years and years ago as they began nibbling at our freedoms. Why get mad at the man that picks up money off the street — when we simply failed to repair the hole in our pocket!
January 26, 2013 at 5:09 PM
Agree 100% Bilbo!
January 26, 2013 at 5:56 PM
Consider this, these thugs want very badly to disarm us and ensure the exclusive use of violence belongs solely to the government. With no recourse other than to meekly accept forced dependency or face violence by government proxy, we will find ourselves slaves on the land our forefathers shed blood and died for.
January 26, 2013 at 7:16 PM
Take a gander at Nevada. All of the California creeps that are managing to get out are comming here. They're starting to ruin our economy as well as what they just left. Then they turn around and re-elect Harry (PINKO) Reid to f-up the rest of the country as well.
America: You get the government you deserve.
K/H D
January 26, 2013 at 9:23 PM
My main fear was that they really were going to make us have license plates with Obongo's face on it…
January 27, 2013 at 7:38 PM
Lord, what punishment!
January 26, 2013 at 10:51 PM
GOOD POINT.
January 27, 2013 at 7:19 AM
As morality and virtue dissipates and corruption and basic instincts combined with tribal alliances rule the day, then the country will look like Chicago.
January 27, 2013 at 8:28 AM
Illinois isn't a microcosm of the economic problems facing the US. Greece is.
January 27, 2013 at 9:07 AM
That's a big 10-4. Our Idiot President and his two-bit liberal administration tools all learned The Chicago Way right here, in the most corrupt government outside of Venezuela. The city of Chicago is bankrupt, Crook County is bankrupt (and raised my property taxes by 38% last year while the value of my home dropped again), and the State of Illinois is bankrupt.
And the all have one thing in common: they are run by the Democrat party with zero opposition. Crooks, liars, and racists, all of them. But they are in favor of gay marriage, so it's all good.
January 27, 2013 at 11:29 AM
Why, Chicago of course. Obama was bred out of corrupt Chicago politics. That is why Illinois is the worst in the nation, Their corrupt congressmen and governors have finally broken their crap-stain of a state. I go to college at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. You want to talk about a microcosm, our university is owed over $100,000,000 by the state and haven't seen a dime. So what do we do? Spend over $2,000,000 on a new building an needless remodels.
January 27, 2013 at 1:19 PM
all, without exception,great civilizations have their day in the sun and go down. we are in the down phase.
January 27, 2013 at 7:40 PM
Yes, it is extremely sad. Obama has certainly hastened its demise.
January 31, 2013 at 4:53 PM
California has good credit. My welfare checks don't bounce.
January 26, 2013 at 9:58 AM
And this is the model O'$hitstain has for the US!!!!
January 26, 2013 at 1:59 PM
REMEMBER ILLINOIS HAS THE WORST GUN LAWS OF ANY STATE IN THE NATION. CALIFORNIA IS THE SECOND WORST. NOTICE THE PARALLEL HERE?
January 26, 2013 at 2:29 PM
Welcome to Obamastan
January 26, 2013 at 8:55 PM
in the mean time flyman is planning for his next vacation.
January 27, 2013 at 6:36 AM
Well no, the Head Wookie is planning it for him. Or do you REALLY think he wears the pants in that "family"?
January 27, 2013 at 9:26 AM
How bout that Three Stooges wig monkey-girl had on… Ahhhhhh- Ain't I's be's butiful….
January 27, 2013 at 6:54 AM
I suggest everyone who does NOT pay federal taxes are NOT allowed to vote! That would cure the problems in IL & around our nation. the teat suckers are outnumbering the tax payers. Dems love this.
January 27, 2013 at 9:25 AM
& Just why should I have to pay taxes to support these bums? Everyone just do as the entitlement crowd does & don't pay another cent in taxes!!!
January 27, 2013 at 7:42 PM
Dems would fight that tooth and nail. They'd call us greedy, selfish, and unfair, maybe even downright un-Christian!
January 27, 2013 at 9:21 AM
Ah-hahahahaha… GovWorkers think the TaxSlaves should work harder to support them…probably the reason Gov wants to take away weapons from the TaxSlaves…..
January 27, 2013 at 5:10 PM
I suspect when pressed, you have no clue why you don't like Obama compared to, say McCain or the one who was just defeated, luckily for the economic health of the country.
When I draw guys like you into chat, I discover you don't know first thing about politics or economics, and even less about foreign policy. You just repeat crap you see on Fox or read on Tea Party blogs. But don't broaden your knowledge by reading and watching anybody else. And those guys know next to nothing. Why do I know you're not well versed? Because you can't intelligently criticize the government, you don't know anything but cheap shots like "Chitstain". And to think, they let mental midgets like you decide who will run the country!
January 27, 2013 at 7:46 PM
The default slander Dems use against Reps is the FOX/Faux News arrow. It's as worn out as the race card. The comment boards I see are pretty evenly divided between intelligent posts and cheap shots fired by both sides! I suggest, Radioman, that you underestimate human nature in presuming your side is superior.
January 26, 2013 at 10:02 AM
LOL you REALLY think they deserve an A- ???
Would you buy their debt?
If so, you really expect to be paid on time and in full?
LOL
January 26, 2013 at 10:11 AM
Hey, just because $159,000 of their State Lottery checks bounce I don't think it's any cause for alarm or anything…
January 26, 2013 at 12:39 PM
Chriss, I work with a large private company that sells to the state of Illinois. Over the last two years our receivables length of time from invoicing to payment stretched to 12 months. Illinois is now C.O.D. with our company and I know we are not alone.
January 26, 2013 at 12:42 PM
In a few more years of Obama deficit spending and Bernabke's QE, the same is going to be asked about our federal government securities. Then what?
January 26, 2013 at 2:30 PM
These credit ratings are PHONEY.
NO entity that hopelessy far in debt deserves and A rating
The US G can NEVER pay off 122 trillion in unfunded liabilities, the Govts A rating is a fraud.
If it were a private person or corporation, theyd be in RECEIVERSHIP
second-amendment DOT tripod DOT com
January 26, 2013 at 4:07 PM
I would not touch the Debt Notes from any of the States at this point.
January 26, 2013 at 4:49 PM
No how do you get it downgraded to a level where they can't borrow anymore?
January 27, 2013 at 12:36 AM
They should redo the credit ratings to a simple report card.
AAA = A
AA = B
A = C
So an A- credit rating is really like a C-
January 26, 2013 at 10:02 AM
obama land
a.k.a. craphole and obama was the turd it let out
January 26, 2013 at 1:14 PM
Why do you think flys keep landing on him? He must resemble something that flys are attracted to…
January 26, 2013 at 1:48 PM
can't fool a fly!
January 26, 2013 at 2:00 PM
IT'S OSOMA OBAMA!
January 26, 2013 at 3:23 PM
haven't laughed so hard in a long time! Thank You
January 26, 2013 at 6:14 PM
That must explain the fly's!
January 26, 2013 at 9:24 PM
Now you know why the flies were swarming on him.
January 26, 2013 at 10:52 PM
Don't blame the whole state for the criminal crap that goes on in CHI town.
January 27, 2013 at 7:48 PM
I wouldn't know, but will take your word on that.
January 27, 2013 at 9:23 AM
don't forget the rest of his crew… one big stinken mess…
January 26, 2013 at 10:03 AM
if only the N-e-g-r-o-e-s and the M-e-x-i-c-a-n-s would just pay their fair share…darn it!!
January 26, 2013 at 10:05 AM
Welcome to our NewNation.org
January 26, 2013 at 10:11 AM
Good luck.
January 26, 2013 at 10:33 AM
Maybe so, but any other race has a higher percentage of it’s population on welfare than whites in the US.
January 26, 2013 at 10:14 AM
There are more white people on welfare than any race.
January 26, 2013 at 10:29 AM
If you read the article it is about funding the states pension programs. This is not about poor welfare though I am sure that plays into it too. The reality is government workers have sweetheart pensions that are underfunded. All they need to do to properly fund them is raise taxes. Either that or drop the pensions or reduce them. This is the exact same pickle Greece is in.
January 26, 2013 at 10:50 AM
and CA… CA has underfunded pensions to the tune of 1/2 Trillion $$..The public unions own the state.
January 26, 2013 at 8:05 PM
Ummm…. the existing "sweetheart" pensions need to be made less "sweet". Future pensions should be eliminated and replaced 401K plans.
January 27, 2013 at 3:51 PM
Yeah sure just increase the taxes so we can have the faltering 2000's instead of the roaring 20's.
People like you who think they know what they are talking about when they really don't should be quiet.
Taxes growth = private sector contraction
Tax contraction = private sector growth
Go read some more before you make comments like someone above trying to ignorantly state there are more white folks on welfare than anyone else.
He meant to say there are more white folks paying taxes for other melanin colored peoples benefits…..
January 26, 2013 at 10:36 AM
There are more white people to be on welfare. The blacks are only about 10% getting 39% of the welfare. Mexicans are white people, too.
January 26, 2013 at 11:51 AM
Some Mexicans are white, most are Mestizo.
January 27, 2013 at 9:59 PM
Is that like a Hebrew soup?
January 26, 2013 at 5:45 PM
ok….so white trash, negros and latinos need to pay thier fair share. Start pulling the wagon instead of riding in the wagon.
January 26, 2013 at 6:24 PM
Well
January 26, 2013 at 6:32 PM
Only idiots make it into a race issue, hence the reason why this country is operating in the manner it is today. We're all (all races) in the crap of the current situation, but making it racial is stupid and childish. Liberal organizations feed off of racial tension (al sharpton and Jesse Jackson make their money off it). There are sorry white people who are parasites on society just like any/every other race. the problem is the Politicians (both dem and rep) they have failed to deliver on any issue, yet they remain in office election after election.
January 26, 2013 at 7:50 PM
Where have you been for the last decade? Liberals will make it about race regardless of what anyone actually says. Say Obama is a poor leader, and you are instantly labeled a racist day in and day out.
It's getting high time to call a spade a spade. The tail is wagging the dog, regardless if it involves blacks or white trash. At some point these freeloaders MUST be forced off the system, instead of endless unemployment or welfare benefits.
January 27, 2013 at 3:55 PM
You mean an idiot like Barack Obama and the entire democratic party?
I mean…You're so right its not even funny.
Don't try to justify it. These parties in America have been infiltrated with money hungry, power loving people who will sell their souls and the American people in a second.
Its time for some serious judiciary activity and trials, and summarily punishment, for the people who have perpetrated crimes against liberty like this.
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." – Thomas Jefferson
January 27, 2013 at 10:03 PM
John, you're wrong:
You say that "Liberal organizations feed off of racial tension…". That is INCORRECT.
Liberal organizations antagonize, formulate and generate racial tension. That is one of their primary objectives to achieve the goal of Divide and Conquer the United States.
Frankly, many of the comments made here are more accurate than your flawed position.
January 27, 2013 at 11:38 PM
obama has devided the country by race and income. He refered to his grandmother as " A typical white person." He is a racist!
January 26, 2013 at 10:37 AM
By numbers Blacks and White are equal, but since Whites have 4 times as many in the population therefore Blacks have 4 times as many as Whites by percentage on welfare. Stop with the lies.
January 26, 2013 at 10:41 AM
What are the percentages? Are there more whites as a percentage of white population on welfare or minorities? And not just blacks, but Hispanics and Asians as well. If some responsible and reputable person can interpolate, this argument can be put to bed.
January 26, 2013 at 10:51 AM
you're a fool
January 26, 2013 at 11:17 AM
Not by percentage, you low grade moron
January 26, 2013 at 11:47 AM
That's because there are more white people. Get it? As a percentage of the white group, they have less takers and more payers. Not so for the others.
January 26, 2013 at 12:29 PM
Blacks and Mexicans make up 26% of the population, but receive 70% of all government give aways. Nice try, though.
January 27, 2013 at 10:07 PM
ALSO….
Obama has quietly directed the head of the FCC to pressure TV advertisers in significantly increasing the amount of blacks in each commercial.
The goal: to have at least ONE black in every TV commercial, and they're DOING it. This has been in effect since just before Christmas.
Think not? Start watching the TV commercials a little more closely instead of blowing throuhgh them on your DVR.
Big Brother is preparing you for the future New Majority.
January 26, 2013 at 1:08 PM
You are full of $h!T…the percentage to the poplulaton ratio is enormously higher for blacks and mexicans. Also, go to Newnation.org and open your eyes kevinshamble
January 26, 2013 at 2:46 PM
You need to read a little more.
January 26, 2013 at 3:19 PM
Maybe by gross numbers but not by percentage of race.
January 26, 2013 at 4:46 PM
math was pretty hard for you wasn't it.
January 26, 2013 at 8:24 PM
Too much typey, not enough thinkey.
January 26, 2013 at 11:11 PM
percentages moron. There are more right handed people than left handed people because there a LOT MORE RIGHT HANDED PEOPLE.
January 27, 2013 at 8:12 AM
Another illiterate libtard moron: 6 % of whites on welfare = 45 % of nigs on welfare.
January 27, 2013 at 8:32 AM
not per capita u idjet.
January 26, 2013 at 10:57 AM
Apparently Corporate Welfare does not work there either.
People need to look at the whole picture and see how the Corporate Welfare destroyed the People by their "employment" practices and tax raids.
Just as in McCollough v. Maryland, the things created by the State are supposed to be taxed to keep the markets fair for the Independent Guy and his Family Business,
The Mexicans as Aliens are supposed to be paying Income and other Taxes.
But White, Red, Yellow and Black Citizens of America are the Sovereigns (Chisholm v. GA) and are not to be Taxed.
All other comments are focused on the trees not the forest.
January 26, 2013 at 5:49 PM
At least corporations "who provide jobs, by the way" still pay taxes and have loopholes in the tax code for deductions. These loopholes were set up by dems and repubs to keep jobs in thier state.
January 26, 2013 at 11:35 AM
A tax increase will benefit these people. They are TAKERS, not GIVERS!!!
January 26, 2013 at 11:43 AM
THIS N-e-g-r-o is paying MORE than his fair share and that of MOST G-r-i-n-g-o-s…
January 26, 2013 at 11:50 AM
atta B-O-Y!!!
January 26, 2013 at 12:06 PM
It's good to be successful.
January 26, 2013 at 1:10 PM
excellent now you know how it feels…welcome to the team
January 27, 2013 at 7:47 AM
and you know this how? Or is this just the quickest response that you could pull out of your butt?
January 26, 2013 at 11:57 AM
They are living of of whites (not all but most)
January 26, 2013 at 12:45 PM
You think that would do the trick?
January 26, 2013 at 1:01 PM
Hang on a minute. Once the illegal aliens obtain their driver's license, they'll get a job, which means they won;t need a LINK or medical card anymore, and they'll start paying taxes. Seriously – if you don;t believe me, just ask Jesse White and all of the other politicians that supported giving them a license (Democrats and Republicans).
As for any other group of non-working, socially-engineered parasites….I don't know what to tell you.
January 26, 2013 at 1:10 PM
A license will just allow them to bring more illegals into the country.
January 26, 2013 at 1:16 PM
How long have you worked for Soros?
January 26, 2013 at 1:39 PM
That'll be the day, ay, ay, when I die.
January 26, 2013 at 2:36 PM
read this from the Golden State of California…..
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0126-comp…
January 26, 2013 at 4:50 PM
Oh, please!!! We all know it's the fault of Whitey, Cracker, Honky! The new three stooges!
January 26, 2013 at 5:54 PM
why is it that I keep seeing blacks at Cracher Barrel. I am just sayin
January 26, 2013 at 5:35 PM
Race doesn't have a lot to do with this problem. There are idiots, fools, and thieves from all races and nationalities. The Dimm-wit Party seems to convinced most of them to join up. Plus there's the Chicago government . . .
January 27, 2013 at 5:11 AM
Mooselems belong in that group.
January 27, 2013 at 6:40 AM
Do not be a freaking racist. We are all in this together.
January 27, 2013 at 7:44 AM
I'm Mexican and I pay my taxes. So screw you.
January 27, 2013 at 12:24 PM
then buy a used car and go home…..gracias, Sen~or….
January 27, 2013 at 8:02 AM
and the c-r-a-c-k-e-r-s (for got one)
January 27, 2013 at 9:56 PM
At least Mexicans tend to WORK for their money…..
January 28, 2013 at 1:31 AM
Working & stealing are not the same thing.
January 27, 2013 at 11:27 PM
Gutierrez hired an illegal alien to "work" in his office. He looks so proud. The "Dreamer" looks like he's going to be raped later!
January 28, 2013 at 1:30 AM
Are you really gay & live in Los Angeles?
January 26, 2013 at 10:04 AM
Well, they elected Democrats to office (again and again), so the reap what they so. Next up, California, then the country. This is what Democrats and Socialists do.
January 26, 2013 at 10:05 AM
Anywhere that Democrats rule you will find devastation of morals, economics. They always act as a regime and not usually in accord with our constitutional law. Obama and his regime are a perfect example of what I am writing about.
January 26, 2013 at 10:23 AM
If Obama is not gotten rid of in … Say a coupe or a meaningful impeachment … You know OUT OF OFFICE …. Then America is doomed. You will not see a peaceful end to his term. Things are deteriorating too quickly now.
January 26, 2013 at 11:36 AM
California is another good example.
January 27, 2013 at 6:52 AM
The useless idiots who pay no fed taxes in Calif just voted for higher taxes on the "rich & greedy" – you know the people who get up & go to work each day. I suggest if you do not pay federal taxes which 47% of Americans do not then they should NOT be allowed to vote.
The non-taxpayers are outnumbering the taxpayers.
87million dependent upon taxes while only 109million actually pay taxes. UNsustainable!
January 27, 2013 at 8:02 PM
I do not understand the administrators on this forum!!! They deleted another comment of mine that is no more inflammatory than any others and with no derogatory language. Let's see if THIS one gets through!
January 27, 2013 at 8:03 PM
There. It got through, but didn't make my point. I've never had comments deleted on any forum but this one. Administrators, you must be very touchy here.
January 26, 2013 at 12:48 PM
it is on the road to look like detroit.enjoy that you losers
January 26, 2013 at 1:12 PM
Just as Detroit went. Product of dumbacrat policies…..but I'm sure the strong will bail out the weak if Obama has his way
January 27, 2013 at 8:04 PM
Remember, his goal is to "level the playing field". If we pay for them, we'll all be making the same amount!
January 27, 2013 at 6:41 AM
Detroit is on par with Chicago as the worst cities on the road to bankcruptcy.
January 27, 2013 at 6:45 AM
As Hillary Clinton famously stated this week: "At this point what difference does it make?" Well of course it makes a lot of difference. But dems/libs have a mental disorder so they cannot think/see/hear straight. Democrats/liberals destroy EVERYTHING they touch even the English language. The uneducated, the useless idiots (angry & bitter & never being allowed to forget slavery of over 200 years ago) – the blacks & the socialists elected dems/libs and our job NOW is to stump for conservative candidates in 2014. If you sit back & wait for someone else to do it Illinois is dead & so is the USA. Liberals/dems/socialists MUST be stopped.
January 27, 2013 at 9:37 AM
We are faced with a new morality based on fame rather than Biblical principles. The president simply says that something is the "right thing to do'" and no one questions the calculus required to come to that conclusion. Women in combat is immoral but it is touted as the right thing to do. Abortion is immoral but it is seen as a positive thing and helping the economy for the last 40 years. The debt is off the horizon of concerns but we formulate immoral inflationary means to pay it off. Our children will be tax slaves.
January 27, 2013 at 8:06 PM
Don't forget gay marriage. (Bet this will be deleted, too.) Remember DOMA — the Defense of Marriage Act signed by Bill Clinton in 1996, as Americans in general wanted to protect that sacred institution? How soon we changed.
January 27, 2013 at 12:12 PM
All you have to do is look at which party is in control. If its under democrat control-it is corrupt, crime ridden and a giant shiphole.
January 27, 2013 at 3:43 PM
Boy, you can say that again. What happened to statesmanship in this country. Surely very very few and being too quiet in Congress.
January 26, 2013 at 10:05 AM
And they talk about Texas. Bwahahahahahha
January 26, 2013 at 10:18 AM
Try to make sense, S-H-I-T for brains:-)
January 26, 2013 at 7:01 PM
Texas had an 8 billion dollar budget surplus this last year. You should attempt to learn things before proving your ignorance in a post for all to see.
January 26, 2013 at 10:24 AM
They trash every other place, talk bad about Texas then want to move there to screw it up too!
January 26, 2013 at 10:35 AM
The same as they talk about the GRANOLA STATE = Mexi-fornia SSS!
January 26, 2013 at 10:52 AM
The Dems are trying to turn Texas blue.. in other words kill another state.
January 27, 2013 at 8:10 PM
Californians, I've heard.
January 26, 2013 at 11:11 AM
Can all the Democrats please STAY in your blue bankrupt states and NOT move to Texas?
January 26, 2013 at 4:51 PM
…and Chicago Democrats, please don't move to Arizona either, you would not like it here. Free Market capitalism is practiced here… oh that's right… you wouldn't understand. Southern Illinois conservatives, however, are welcome — escape the blue while you can!!.
January 27, 2013 at 9:48 AM
amen brother ! Texas rocks the blacks and Hispanics are cool and conservative as well
everyone gets along great and works their tails off young and vivacious ladies to boot
January 26, 2013 at 2:27 PM
Texas is in one of the best fiscal states in the nation, and we can blame Bush for our lower taxes and our growing economy. Liberals just need to stay away.
January 26, 2013 at 8:45 PM
Please don't move to Texas. As a fifth generation Texan, I ask you to please stay in your home state and repair the mess you've made of your state. We'll be just fine. We won't ask you to bail us out. We don't need your help when we get hit with a hurricane. We will take care of ourselves.
Take care of yourselves… PLEASE!
January 27, 2013 at 3:53 AM
Yes, I moved here from the Police State of Missouri 32 years ago. I left my voting pattern up there. When in Texas, act like a Texan! Also the state is now closed please stay in your own F'd up state and fix it yourself !
January 27, 2013 at 10:10 AM
So glad I made it in before the gates were closed then. I have no intention of turning the state blue, red is hot.
January 27, 2013 at 12:39 AM
texas is the best state in the union. low taxes, good employment and wages, hard working, independent people who do not need or want federal interference, oil, a great coast, good weather.
truly the Lone Star State. we can secede successfully; can you?
January 27, 2013 at 10:39 AM
Obama has more people riding in the wagon than pulling it. When your wagon gets stuck in the creek, at some point you have to stop beating the taxpaying horse, and start unloading the entitlement wagon.
January 27, 2013 at 8:08 PM
They talk about TX? Maybe they're saying good things?!? We're not perfect here, but we're sane, thank you very much.
January 26, 2013 at 10:06 AM
Pathetic … nearly as pathetic as the comments on this page.
January 26, 2013 at 10:08 AM
Well when lib politicians are destroying the country what did you expect?
January 26, 2013 at 10:11 AM
Truth hurts, doesn't it.
January 26, 2013 at 2:41 PM
Well said Irondog.
January 26, 2013 at 3:09 PM
Sometimes you have to respond the way parents and teachers don't anymore, sad isn't it.
January 26, 2013 at 10:48 AM
And this is a productive comment worthy of posting–why?
January 26, 2013 at 10:53 AM
yes they should be celebrating Illinois status ..forward!!!!
January 26, 2013 at 12:05 PM
SUCK IT LIBTARD!
January 26, 2013 at 12:20 PM
how so? does the truth look so bad gazing at the mirror. what you should be looking is pictures of your kids and what we have doneto there future we created with a debt so high they will be living a lower standard of living while we partied till the lights blew. america has become a pack of hyenas that steal food and value from others that prosper. thats what 50 years of progressives have brought too your kids future. so appologize to them if you have any.
January 27, 2013 at 9:52 AM
why is everyone so old and gray in Illiannoise why are the roads crapola
and why or why does everyone look so depressed ? stay the hell out of TEXAS !
January 26, 2013 at 10:06 AM
…and who's been running the show in Illinois?
January 26, 2013 at 11:29 AM
NO ONE except the WELFARE LIbtards.
Seems like the murder capitol of the UNITED STATES would have other issues than Rahm the dancing clown pushing banks to cut off gun makers lines of credit, whil HIS state in going down in flames.
Now that's funny, I do not care who you are(unless a libtard.)
January 26, 2013 at 12:07 PM
AL Capone clones
January 26, 2013 at 12:07 PM
AL Capone clones
January 26, 2013 at 2:14 PM
Democrats..or Chicago…
January 26, 2013 at 7:17 PM
Not me! I got the hell out of that state 17 years ago!
January 26, 2013 at 10:17 PM
Nor me. I escaped 35 years ago thanks to the USAF.
January 27, 2013 at 8:06 AM
me also, 59 years ago and done fine since
January 26, 2013 at 8:22 PM
There is a reason so many of the former Illinois Governors are spending their days in prison.
January 26, 2013 at 10:06 AM
Libtards.
January 26, 2013 at 10:53 AM
libholes!
January 27, 2013 at 10:07 PM
Democratzis.
January 27, 2013 at 11:21 PM
Demwits!
January 26, 2013 at 10:07 AM
Good riddance, Felonois, Quinn's Land of Lenin. Have fun in Third World Totalitarian Hell with Moonbeam's Stalinfornia, the Cuommunist's Nueva Jork and the clueless O'Malley's Maryland.
January 26, 2013 at 10:58 AM
It's not Illinois' fault. We consistently vote against the liberal Demo-rat-ic machine. It is the clowns in Crook County that that vote the fools in.
January 26, 2013 at 11:44 AM
Chicago used to be a place where people would want to visit to get some good italian food, watch the cubbies or the sox, etc. but not anymore. I was up there for business last month and could not wait to get out of that sh!thole!!!
January 26, 2013 at 6:09 PM
Where are you from that makes Chicago a sh!thole?
January 27, 2013 at 8:24 PM
Sorry for you and others like you.
January 26, 2013 at 12:54 PM
Actually we call him Moron O'Malley here in the (formerly) Free State.
January 27, 2013 at 7:28 AM
You mean the OMalley Maryland that is first in Education for 5 straight yeas and has the highest incomes in the US? Idiot, go back to your tin foil hat.
January 27, 2013 at 9:31 AM
I love you Barak Hussein Obama, aka Pharaoh Hussein divine offspring of the sun god, may you and your heavenly consort, Mother of the Nation, Michelle live forever.
January 26, 2013 at 10:08 AM
Hey, hey, hey. What about NJ, Md, La, Pa. Our crooks are as good as your crooks.
January 26, 2013 at 11:48 AM
No they're not as good [bad] as ours … we've had FOUR governors go to prison out of our last seven [the only ones that didn't go to prison were all republicans, strangely]! That's a record that may stand forever!
January 26, 2013 at 12:16 PM
George Ryan was a Republiban. We're an equal corrupt governor state.
January 26, 2013 at 4:42 PM
Don't forget West Virginia. It's a great state, it just has the worst people in the country.
January 26, 2013 at 5:33 PM
yeah,how many governors do you have in jail?
nough daid
January 27, 2013 at 8:11 AM
Ill crooks just learned from the best crooks". the O". He was there first. It was his testing ground. So everybody else is playing catch up.
January 27, 2013 at 10:56 AM
ALL THE CROOKS IN NJ ARE DAMOCRAPS
January 27, 2013 at 4:20 PM
I am from PA our crooks may not be as crooked as yours but they try harder
January 27, 2013 at 8:27 PM
So funny!
January 27, 2013 at 10:43 PM
OK, OK. Sheeesh, you folks are really touchy about the quality of your crooks. I won't push the issue but nobody can touch the Atlantic City mayors record. That crowd will bring a tear to your eye. Real pros, those guys.
January 26, 2013 at 10:08 AM
Those of us in the southern part of the state are conservatives who always get out voted. When Quinn won re-election he only won 3 counties in the entire state and you guessed it, 2 of the 3 were Chicago area counties. It has always been joked about the lower half of the state we should separate from the rest of the state. We could have a South Illinois and a North Illinois (ika Dakotas). These guys got us into this mess but do not have the guts to stop spending nor make real cuts. The state owns land everywhere and much of it is not being used, sell it and then collect the property taxes (its not rocket science). I could go on but I have errands to run. Ugh,….
January 26, 2013 at 10:16 AM
no more joking…secede now… form a new propsperous state…2 new Senators and lower taxes….
January 26, 2013 at 10:19 AM
It's not just Southern IL. Any area outside Cook county is conservative. Chicago should be its own state.
January 26, 2013 at 11:04 AM
That's right. If Crook County were made the fifty-first state, Illinois would be in good shape. How can we constitutionally do that?
January 26, 2013 at 7:25 PM
US Constitution article 4 section 3. Read up, this needs to be what we should be looking at, 535 men trying to govern 310 million people ,does not work, that is what we were supposed to be doing all along, Read about how republics used to operate, say before 1800
January 26, 2013 at 12:40 PM
Same thing here in CA. The large cities run this state. LA, SF, and Sacramento. If we could split CA into 2 or 3 states things would be more manageable. As it stands now the loons run the asylum.
January 26, 2013 at 2:23 PM
You're right Dan, if you look at the Blue/Red map of California, it is more red than blue, unfortunately the blue's in the large cities outnumber us red's. There was a movement started to get a proposition on the ballot to split the state north and south east, ummmm! I wonder what happened to it.
January 26, 2013 at 9:08 PM
In Pennsylvania we have mainly Philadelphia and Pittsburg that are hopelessly Liberal.
January 27, 2013 at 12:29 PM
Pittsburgh.
January 27, 2013 at 8:37 PM
It seems to be a pattern of the entire nation: The big cities of populous states like CA, IL, maybe even NY, color the whole states blue, and their electoral votes in turn tip the whole country blue. When you look at the red/blue voting map, the country is mostly red. 'Course Libs would say those states are backwards, fly-over states.
January 26, 2013 at 10:50 AM
I'm sorry for you, Southern Illinoisain… I was born in Illinois, raised there and other places, and now live in Texas… I love it here! People WORK for the most part, and we pay our debts WITHOUT state income taxes. We even get to keep our guns, here
January 26, 2013 at 12:28 PM
I know I have cousins in good ole Tx and I could not agree with you more. I have lived in IN, KY, and GA and they were much better as well.
January 26, 2013 at 1:03 PM
Don't forget the cops do roadside body cavity searches there too.
And please don't forget the Texas Dept. of Public Safety ran interference for the FBI, BATF and the Army Delta Squad that murdered all those folks, including kids, outside of Waco not that long ago.
Texas is FAR from perfect. The entire USA is in for a very rude awakening. It will be too late for most.
January 27, 2013 at 8:46 PM
I live in Waco, and was there during the Branch Davidian standoff. Crazy stuff. I heard that David Koresh & company moved to TX from CA and brought property in the area for his compound. (In other words, he was not a hometown guy.) They lived out in the country, and few locals knew them. It was hard to know whose side was right at the time. News media reported that Koresh & Co. had an arsenal of firearms and may have been molesting kids. Then the standoff happened, which was brought to a head by Janet Reno & tanks, and ended by the horrible fire. Just a trip down memory lane…. No, TX is not perfect, baby(driver).
January 26, 2013 at 10:50 AM
Having lived in Illinois, I would liken the comparison more to South and North Korea !!
January 26, 2013 at 11:41 AM
Southern Illinoisian: You are absolutely correct, however common sense is not found anywhere in state government. I lived in Carbondale for four years as I was completing Ph.D. coursework. When I renewed my tag one year, I noticed a "miscellaneous vehicle usage tax" (this was in 2005). When I asked about it, it was to pay for road maintenance fees on state highways IN CHICAGO. Nothing like paying taxes to maintain a city that cannot support itself!
January 26, 2013 at 2:24 PM
The Wind Power Turbines that used up Federal Grants for Illinois residents were placed around Princeton area and they power Chicago.
Why do all the other regions have to support this area. Why can't these Federal grants go to the private sector first like in other states.
Seems like everywhere else is having to support Chicago and they do NO giving back.
January 26, 2013 at 11:38 PM
That has been the trick that kept Illinois alive all of these years. They have trucked in money through grants etc. from other states to cover the costs that they have run up in Chicago.
Obama doesn't know any better because that is where he was taught how the system worked and as far as he is concerned, you can borrow forever from others.
It's about time the wheels started falling off so the people of this country can see exactly what Obama has brought to this nation and maybe once they hurt enough, they will stop voting for a big smile and go for intelligent leadership.
January 28, 2013 at 9:48 AM
Chicago does too give back to the rest of the state!!! Why just the other day there was a huge drug bust of "product" that came right down I55 into our fair city…
January 26, 2013 at 12:11 PM
When you draw that line, dividing IL north vs. south, make it along I-80. I live in the Peoria area and not near Chicago. We ALWAYS get out-voted down here.
January 27, 2013 at 3:20 PM
I don't think so!! I live just 2hrs from the suburbs and 20min north of I-80. I do NOT want to be considered part of Chicago. The political mind set changes just miles outside of the Chicago city limits.
January 26, 2013 at 12:17 PM
Finally I'm hearing it: Sell off public land (privatize it) use it to fully fund the pensions. Texas is 99% in private hands. Do you notice the difference?
January 26, 2013 at 12:28 PM
I've said the same thing for years. Make the border along I-80, so that except for the Peoples Republic of Urbana, all the state's common sense, freedom loving folks would live in South Illinois. Though the state's capitol is in Springfield, the state government is told what to do by Chicago. No Chicago mayor would ever want to be state governor because all the political clout is in Chicago. Good old Governor Blago (now in prison) didn't even bother traveling to Springfield unless he absolutely had to, and then he would commute down and back to Chicago on a state aircraft the same day.
January 26, 2013 at 12:30 PM
PS to all of my replies… I am tempted to get the movement started, but I am too busy running a company and dodging increased regulation and taxes just to stay in buisness.
January 27, 2013 at 8:49 PM
Hope you stay afloat and thrive.
January 28, 2013 at 4:06 AM
Move to Indiana, we want you….Use to live in Chicago suburb , never again.
January 26, 2013 at 12:36 PM
I 'm reading a book written by Bob Sturm, (deceased) and it's about my relatives that lived in Southern Illinois and they were liberal (Democratic) down in the Southern part of IL too, for many years.
January 26, 2013 at 12:39 PM
Wish we could afford to move out of this land of corruption IL..I do like the thought of dividing the state!
January 26, 2013 at 1:44 PM
get the movement started. click my name
January 26, 2013 at 5:13 PM
Good for you! I love to see somebody taking action, and not just complaining!
I'd participate, but I live in Alabama
January 27, 2013 at 6:49 AM
Come on, you can still help the people in Illinois no matter what state you live in. The internet allows you to help candidates in other states. I did it with Wisconsin's governors race and I live in PA>
January 26, 2013 at 2:19 PM
I love the North/South idea!!!
However, in defense of my family in the Princeton area (still 2 hours away from Chicago) They have seen an increase of population even way West because they no longer want to live there. Why Princeton? Because they can still take the Amtrak to/from work..
Everyone knows the problem is Chicago, so why not let that portion try being their own state and quit giving the rest of the state a bad name.
January 27, 2013 at 8:50 PM
So it's a blue island in a red state?
January 26, 2013 at 5:10 PM
Very true, but they would never let you do that since Southern Illinois would send 4-5 conservative congressman and 2 conservative senators to D.C. and the Democrat mafia would not allow that. All the Democrats have to do is win Cook and Dupage with their large population of moronic white liberals and radical blacks and Mexicans to ensure perpetual control of Springfield and electoral votes to a Democratic presidential candidate. This simply isn't fair to the rest of the state.
January 26, 2013 at 10:21 PM
Well at least you have good neighbors, more than I can say. I live right outside of Chicago (I can walk to the city limits) and I am surrounded by either stupid people, evil people, or both. Some of them are family members. What is wrong with people? I want out of Illinois so badly.
January 26, 2013 at 10:46 PM
I've said this a long time….the Chicago area is a drain on the state's economy & no Republican will have a fair shot at the governorship until something is done, like getting rid of Chicago & making it like DC. Let them have their own tax money & let the rest of the state do its own thing. I'd bet our taxes would be a lot lower.
January 27, 2013 at 12:33 AM
Not that I'll do much, but there is a minority (perhaps 33% at best) of conservatives north of I-80 or "north Illinois." So yes, it feels our vote doesn't count.
January 27, 2013 at 6:46 AM
I say if you do NOT pay federal taxes then you should NOT be allowed to vote.
January 28, 2013 at 2:47 AM
Quinn has been doing his job and is #1 in speaking and trying to get pension reform. His own party seems to be owned by the crooked and greedy unions. Don't blame Quinn.
January 26, 2013 at 10:09 AM
Durbin, Duckworth, Schakowski, Preckwinkle, Madigans, Daleys Strogers , Rush,
Karen Lewis, Culleron, Chicago aldermen , Lipinski ,
January 26, 2013 at 10:39 AM
Forgot Comrade Durbin– did you see him lap dance for Hillary– at the expense of truth>
January 26, 2013 at 6:29 PM
Blagojevich!
January 26, 2013 at 6:33 PM
I agree with all of those, except Lipinski. I went to one of his town hall meetings , and changed my mind about him., and if you look at his record he really isn't a liberal
Lo I reluctantly have to give the devil his due.
January 26, 2013 at 8:48 PM
It takes a special species of clod to live and work in Cook County Illinois! You are either a shoebox-stuffing political cretin living off the buffalo-brained imbeciles who try their best to survive the corruption; or you are a food-stamp addicted, Obama Phone aficionado, Welfare and Winehead Baby Mama wid six chilluns by five ghetto daddies! Dig It Folks! The Land Of Obama In All It`t Glory! Hope And Change! Sing Halleluya!
January 27, 2013 at 12:05 PM
you forgot Obama…
January 26, 2013 at 10:09 AM
Ask yourself one question. Who controls the politics where all the ghettos of this country are?
January 26, 2013 at 10:21 AM
Benevolent progressives?
January 26, 2013 at 10:48 AM
I though that 'asking one question' was "Do you feel lucky? Well do ya, punk?!"
January 26, 2013 at 1:01 PM
The same people who turned productive cities into ghettos…
January 26, 2013 at 5:13 PM
The new plantation owners.
January 27, 2013 at 10:43 AM
They say it's easier to fool someone then convince them they have been fooled
January 26, 2013 at 10:09 AM
Welcome to the new United Fascist States of Chicago. Obama wants to make the US look just like that. Also known as Chicagostan. Did you know that Chicago is more dangerous than the war zone in Afghanistan?
January 26, 2013 at 10:38 AM
Now the mayor- Comrade Rahm wants to dump state retirees healthcare onto the federal government through Obamacare!!! Next, California will get a bailout from the federal government. And our national media, the Pravda of the west will support both moves.
January 26, 2013 at 10:52 AM
California has already gotten a bailout. You just were never told. The banks were sued for the 2008 financial debacle, they settled. California got 75% of the settlement. Hmmmm, they never told you that on the DNC media? Aka state run propaganda?
January 26, 2013 at 11:00 AM
Afghanistan is a 7th century dysfunctional society based on Tribalism, nepotism, bribery and religious zealotry. Chicago has the same characteristics . Tribalism is" gang affiliations", Nepotism is R Daily the father and R Daily the son , Bribery is also known as "the Chicago Way" ( they even gave it a name ) and finally religiously zealotry is the religion of " Liberalism." There is of course one big difference , Afghanistan has about 7 working toilets, Chicago on the other hand IS one big toilet
January 26, 2013 at 1:23 PM
what about Karjackistan?
January 26, 2013 at 8:43 PM
Hahaha!
January 26, 2013 at 5:12 PM
Yes, and if we traded the black gang bangers for the Afghan Mujahadeen crime in the windy city would decrease. Imagine that.
January 26, 2013 at 5:28 PM
Right on…time for another REVOLUTION in OUR nation – we're overdue…rise up America – let's stand up and be counted!!! Down with tyranny! Down with Osama's,( ooopss!!) I mean, "Obama's nation" the ABOMINATION of this century… RISE UP AND REVOLT!!!!
January 26, 2013 at 5:39 PM
Maybe those gangs are Obama's civilian military he wanted. So he has to disarm the legal gun owners and allow the illegal gun owners.
January 27, 2013 at 10:25 AM
Amazing, too, as guns are illegal in Chicago. Shows how well THAT law works!
January 26, 2013 at 10:10 AM
Illinois looks like a good take-over target for Wisconsin. The only downside I can see is that all of the US flags will need to be re-done with 49 stars.
January 26, 2013 at 10:33 AM
Illinois is too arrogant. Even though they are at the bottom of the pile, they still consider southern Wisconsin (my home) as a suburb of Chicago.
January 26, 2013 at 11:09 AM
Illinois is not arrogant. We are kindhearted and giving. So much so that we will gladly give Wisconsin all of Crook County.
January 26, 2013 at 12:21 PM
Accept Porto Rico to statehood as they have petitioned – still 50 stars. No problem! Of course the politicians are Useless Eaters, so they go before the Death Panels their Rat-in-Chief said didn't exist. Give the corrupt cops to their victims and we won't have to worry about burials. Give us back our gun rights and the rest will behave themselves as we rebuild.
January 26, 2013 at 1:36 PM
So we can have what, DIRTY CHEESE?
No thanks.
January 26, 2013 at 2:45 PM
We really don't want it. I used to go Chicago every winter to enjoy the lakefront, museums etc. Too concerned about the crime and corruption. New destination.
January 26, 2013 at 6:45 PM
Why would Wisconsin want it? As a Michigan resident, I wish we could slice off Detroit and force it on Canada — or anyone else.
January 26, 2013 at 11:35 PM
Great idea! Without guns, who's gonna stop any foreign gubment from taking over another? Who?? And acording to Mr. Hillary Clinton, "What differance does it make anyway?" Really, 57 states, 1 state, it all belongs to the libtards anyway, right? I think not. MOLAN LABE!
January 26, 2013 at 10:10 AM
Madiganistan has been ruled by Democrats for decades,,,
Chicago Style, U:nionista thuggery ,
January 26, 2013 at 10:10 AM
"It's Bush's fault" President Obama was quoted as saying on the White House lawn, when asked for comment on this issue, he was heading for the golf course and on to his somewhat native Hawaii for a 30 day "working vacation", then on to his homeland in Kenya.
January 26, 2013 at 10:58 AM
Where he will summarily ignore his Kenyan brother who lives in a shack and disagrees with his politics.
January 26, 2013 at 1:09 PM
Will the National Parks Service have to send the Marines in when they make Obama's birth place into a National Shrine, or will the Kenyan Government relent peacefully?
January 27, 2013 at 10:24 AM
How did you get that through, My comment wasn't nearly as critical of Barry… although I did bad mouth the state of Illinois..I said they followed the federal gubment model for responsible spending.
January 26, 2013 at 10:10 AM
Any large metropolis run by progressives turns to $hit. The over-regulation, union corruption, and unsustainable pensions is their downfall.
January 26, 2013 at 8:31 PM
Keith, I agree entirely. If you want a well run state or city you damn well better vote Republican.
That said, allow me a mild criticism of your post. Don't accede to the demand of liberals that we call them progressives. There is nothing progressive about Liberalism. Liberalism is a corrosive attack on individual liberties and deserves the ugly approbation.
January 28, 2013 at 6:02 AM
It's not just "…large metropolis run by progressives…!" It's "…large metropolis run by Negro progressives…"
January 26, 2013 at 10:11 AM
There you go. Proof that Liberalism and Democrat policies are epic fails.
January 26, 2013 at 10:30 AM
Hey! I am a Liberal, what you are talking about is liberals, aka progressives, aka statists, aka communists, aka fascists, aka socialists. Let us not allow the lefties to destroy a perfectly good political ideology. David, the Constitutional Libertarian.
January 26, 2013 at 10:11 AM
Since they sent the son of Satan to Washington they can GFT. I hope they implode.
January 26, 2013 at 3:21 PM
That isn't really fair to those of us in this state who worked against Oblama.
January 26, 2013 at 8:05 PM
You are right POed. Sadly, the good folks of IL do not count anymore. It's the flaming Marxist goons that have destroyed the state. I thank God I could get out out of that hell hole.
January 26, 2013 at 3:34 PM
i live here, and sadly i agree
January 26, 2013 at 6:06 PM
I talked to satan, hes disowned O-$hitstain, say hes too evil.
January 26, 2013 at 10:12 AM
Blowhard Chris Christie rails about the excessive number of municipal governments in New Jersey as the cause of high taxes. There are 576. Illnois (sic) has over 2900. The state with the highest taxes? Hawaii. The number of municipal governments there? FOUR!!!!!!! Bonehead.
January 26, 2013 at 10:14 AM
See how the DNC media is already attempting to float Christie as the Republican candidate for 2016? He is a democrat in a fat man Republican suit.
January 26, 2013 at 11:14 AM
Don't know if it is still true, but in the 1990's Hawaii had the highest ratio of state/local government workers to population of all 50 states. Something like 10% of those obese samoans just collected a gubmint paycheck.
January 26, 2013 at 12:28 PM
The number depend on how you cut the mustard. Thanks to a big tax increase funded by California's public-sector unions, called Proposition 30, California now has …
* The nation's highest state tax rate.
* The nation's 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 5th highest state marginal income tax rates. Hawaii used to tops, but no longer.
Thank You Proposition 30 Supporters! http://soquelbythecreek.blogspot.com/2012/11/weca…
January 26, 2013 at 1:23 PM
Hawaii has high taxes because it is poorly run by liberals. The culture here tends to be conservative, but they vote liberal….go figure. Unions have way too much control and we don't have nearly the freedom that people in Texas have (owning any gun here requires you to register it and the ammo…darn close to a second amendment violation if not a second amendment violation. Basically, we have a third world government that most people ignore (as in no one pays attention to the speed limit as it is set artificially low compared to the same roads on the mainland).
January 31, 2013 at 11:09 AM
Hawaii also has high taxes because everyone has to have more income to be able to afford anything. Virtually everything except pineapples and cane sugar must be imported long distances by air or sea, which drives up the cost. A late friend called it "isolation inflation"; if you're ever in Florida, you'll see the a less extreme example in Key West.
I visited Hawaii back in 1991. The lowest gas prices I found were:
$1.51 in Hilo
$1.57 in Kailua-Kona
$1.36 in Honolulu
By comparison, gas in the DFW area averaged about $0.80.
January 26, 2013 at 1:39 PM
OMG, and Hawai'i is known as the most beautiful DEAD END ever created, and the world's most expensive to live in THIRD WORLD COUNTRY.
Tell you what, if you think it's a utopia, COME ON OUT. Stay on the waianae coast for a week and let the locals beat your brains into worse mush than it already is.
January 26, 2013 at 7:24 PM
Apples and Oranges buddy. My truck has one gas tank and I get 24mpg.
On oil tanker has 1 gas tank and gets 67 gallons to the mile.
January 26, 2013 at 11:51 PM
Actually, Christie is right. Each of those townships, cities or towns has to have an entire local government, school system top to bottom, and their own police force, fire departments etc. It is extremely expensive for those of us who live here.
I can drive through three to five towns going one mile in any direction from my house. That is how small most of these townships etc. are here in NJ.
We need to consolidate services.
Hawaii is a freak of govt nature just like Illinois, NY, and NJ. The history of each goes back 100+ years of corruption that never gets addressed rationally.
January 27, 2013 at 5:58 AM
Democraps can't stop spending because they use the public treasuries to buy votes; to reduce spending equates to lost elections. They blame the wealthy for poverty, which shifts blame from themselves and let immorality and corruption go unchecked to get those votes as well. Democraps have no shame and no character, NONE!
For Democraps, it's all about power, damn the nation.
January 27, 2013 at 1:16 PM
Number of city governments is not an obvious indicator of insanity in policy. New York City isolated by items for instance has one, Texas has roughly 1300, 250 of 10K people or more, but all those combined don't waste a fraction of the wasteful spending.
It's bizarre that the cities, counties and states led my the most "progressive" leaders (both Dems and Repubs can qualify) are the biggest financial basketcases and have remained so you decades and decades, yet fiscal conservatism is held as the dangerous extremist position in local governments by much of media and pop culture.
If progressivism delivered as sold, Detroit for instance would be an economic utopia after the past 5-6 decades for progressive control instead of being ground zero for economic disaster..
January 27, 2013 at 8:16 PM
If the NJ municipal governments were solvent, there would not be a problem.
January 26, 2013 at 10:12 AM
Bobby Rush…all that needs to be said.
January 26, 2013 at 10:12 AM
Abraham Lincoln would be astonished to see what has become of his state. It's shameful, and frustrating, and thank you CHICAGO for constantly overwhelming the rest of the downstate voters (like me) by repeatedly putting these boneheads back in office.
January 26, 2013 at 12:41 PM
Amen!
January 27, 2013 at 1:19 PM
Folks in Illinois prefer to think of Lincoln as being from Illinois…. some people down South prefer to think of him as from hell…. looks like the Southerners are correct NOW. LOL
January 26, 2013 at 10:13 AM
Mrs. Obozo is finalloy proud to be an Illinoyance…
January 26, 2013 at 10:15 AM
Ill noise residents. Please, don't move to Indiana.
January 26, 2013 at 2:27 PM
In fact, we'd like to make you a deal that involves shifting the IL border east just far enough to absorb Gary. It'll fit right in to your state.
January 26, 2013 at 10:16 AM
Illinois is run for the benefit of the Ruling elite in Chicago. Not the people of Illinois.
January 26, 2013 at 5:39 PM
Just like Washington
January 26, 2013 at 10:16 AM
Just taking into consideration the fact that IL spawned a senator named Obama who later became El Presidente is enough to pin the moniker "Worst State Ever" on IL for life. Let's face it, such atrocity will be hard to beat. And, even if we could, who would want to?
January 26, 2013 at 10:17 AM
aaaaaaaa
January 26, 2013 at 10:17 AM
I'm thinking it's not an outbreak of capitalism that led to this…
http://www.saltusa.com
January 26, 2013 at 10:17 AM
The voters in Illinois have only themselves to blame for this. You low-brows are the ones that put these losers in office to tax you to death and waste the fruits of your labor. Declare bankruptcy and start over.
January 26, 2013 at 2:23 PM
No, it's the people of Chicago, which probably has well over the 47% number receiving govt money. There are enough of those voters that what the rest of the state votes for doesn't matter. Chicago swamps the polls.
A shame, as 95% of Illinois is really nice and basically conservative. Just not enough votes to overwhelm the 47% + in Chicago who will vote Dem forever. Hey, why not, it worked in Detroit!
January 26, 2013 at 3:25 PM
"This comment has been deleted by the administrator."
WTF???
January 26, 2013 at 10:17 AM
What you see in California and Illinois is what you are seeing in the Federal Government. The wrong people are definitely trying to run this show and they are doing what they want not what is in the peoples best interest.
The Obama administration are nothing more than criminals and need to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law, which of course will not happen as the congress and senate are also only for themselves and again not for the people/
Totally dysfunctional and corrupt government without a doubt! Their time is definitely coming and they will be dealt with accordingly.
January 26, 2013 at 10:18 AM
Get ready for this for the whole country. Face it, dimocrats simply can NOT stop spending. The GOP also, but for different reasons. The dimocrats are the party of big spending, of vote buying, of redistribution. If they cut spending, or even just stopped spending nearly as much, people would not have a reason to vote for them. They know it too. Besides, who doesn't like spending money? It's fun. Especially when you're spending billions of dollars, of other people's money, AND you get the credit for it!!
So there's no way they're going to stop spending. Plus, obama the lawless has increased the yearly spending by trillions of dollars, so we're spending more every year, EVERY year, than we take in.
Our government should be forced to run the finances they way they run their HOUSEHOLD finances. None of them would be borrowing money to give away. None of them would be incurring this much debt. Why do we allow them to do it to us??
January 26, 2013 at 10:19 AM
Keep voting Democrat for another couple decades and blaming the Republicans for all of your problemsIllinois- it seems to be working out for you so far!
January 26, 2013 at 10:19 AM
Illinois has worked very hard to get this rating and will keep up the poor work. Yay us.
January 26, 2013 at 10:20 AM
The Jews, Africans , and Mexicans must be stupid stupid stupid to keep voting for the dems. They must like high taxes high gas prices and crappy schools and high unemployment.
January 26, 2013 at 10:31 AM
These groups (along with union members) have one thing in common. . . they elect deranged politicians who promise to punish people they hate (bankers, tea party folks, NRA members, Bible believers, etc) and confiscate the enemies loot in order to distribute to others in their cult. There is no difference between a radical Islamist and a Liberal.
January 26, 2013 at 5:06 PM
The problems you mention aren't really a problem when you're sucking on the government teat. Taxes? I don't pay 'em. High gas prices? Naw, I use the public transportation that's funded by you hard working taxpayers (thanks for the free fare cards so I can get to my <wink> "job interviews" </wink>. Crappy schools? What me worry, I dropped out of school because I didn't like having to show up all the time, and besides, school don't teach you them important life skills, like knowing what to say when you apply for welfare so that you won't be turned down, or how much extra you can bring home from the welfare office for each kid you pop out; you know, the important stuff you need to know. High unemployment? Not me, I've got a job – I've made a career out of working the system, just like the ones who brung me up. Why would I bother to work when the man will just give it to me – if I had a job I wouldn't have the free time I need so I can figure out new ways to take advantage of the system. I got no problem with them who wants to work for a living, it's just not for me. Hey, its a free country isn't it?
January 27, 2013 at 1:20 PM
Well, DUH!
January 26, 2013 at 10:20 AM
Yet another example in an endless "progress"-ion of proglodytic satire which writes itself.
January 26, 2013 at 10:20 AM
Noooo, not the land of corruption, Union Thuggery and Criminals running the Gov't,,,Not true,,,Not True.
January 26, 2013 at 10:21 AM
If Lincoln had known then what we know now, he would have gone to the theater much sooner!
January 26, 2013 at 10:21 AM
keep buying votes….keep getting votes. culturally we have past the point of no return and the idiocrats and zombies win.
January 26, 2013 at 10:22 AM
Bush's fault,,blame the Republicans….this is never the fault of the dems, ever. Make sure you review the official memo if you need a refresher,,or,,turn on any mainstream media outlet,,they'll remind you of your forced allegiance to Der Furher Obama and his corrupt and bankrupt crew.
January 26, 2013 at 10:23 AM
No surprise here.
January 26, 2013 at 10:25 AM
The California Dems (Marxists) have 100% control over the State. Moonbeam Brown lies about the State doing well. It is now the highest taxed State and the new tax increases are going Directly into the hands of the Union Mafia. Illinois corrupt? You bet. Mexifornia corrupt? you bet. No difference. Good businesses continue to Flee these Mafia controlled States and their ratings will continue to fall.
Obama is doing the same on a Federal level. Mafia gangsters run the show for now.
January 26, 2013 at 10:25 AM
Importantly, Illinois is rated below some African and Balkan countries. Doesn't include Chicago/Cook County's unfunded $108 billion pension liabiity for its 3million citizens. They and they ilk definitely are looking for the federal government to federalize these state and local liabilities, as are pensions of bankrupted companies to an extent, so all Americans will be on the hook for these liabilities. Illinois-based companies only have to move a few miles to be in a state with a surplus!
How can their shareholders allow them to stay when they will inevitably have to pay for these liabilities. Previous governors and many Chicago aldermen in jail. One half of Chicago aldermen are children of previous aldermen. Any Illinois homeowners who think they have equity in their homes, net of this invisible liabiliy coming home to roost, are kidding themselves.
January 26, 2013 at 10:26 AM
What I am really afraid of is these Illinoian moving to my state and voting. I know a few, and of course they think they know better than all and espouse their uber liberal "progressive" America hating ideals. I have said to them many a time, "Look at your state, its been run by democrats for the past…well forever!"
Read more: http://wgntv.com/2013/01/26/illinois-credit-ratin…
Read more at http://wgntv.com/2013/01/26/illinois-credit-ratin…
January 26, 2013 at 10:27 AM
My understanding is much of the pension shortfall is from a decision by the legislature NOT to make the contributions they should have. Nice way to reward the gov't employees. How many gov't employees, teachers, etc., voted loyally for Democrats for how many years? They brought it on themselves.
Recovery? Attract new businesses? The "leadership" might want to think about this black mark on the state. If they think that businesses do not look at things like this when thinking about re-locating or putting in a facility, they'd better think again.
January 26, 2013 at 10:28 AM
the states of Illinois (Chicago), Michigan (Detroit), New Jersey (Newark), Ohio (Cleveland), Georgia (Atlanta) just to name a few seem to be isolating themselves from the rest of the country at a pace we can only hope will allow their citizens to wallow in the slop but not allow them to drag the rest of us in against our will.
January 26, 2013 at 11:01 AM
All Dems should be forced to live in the inner cities that have been under Dem control for over 10 years…leave the rest of us out of the muck! We'll be just fine and the libs will be happy in their metro-topia